Improvement in fuses for explosive shells



'B. F. STURTEVANT.

Shell-Fuse.

No. 36.037. Patented July 29, 1862.

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N.PETERS. 9HOTOL\THOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. I) C.

Nr'rEn STATES PATENT tribe,

BENJAMIN F. SIURTEVANT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FUSES FOR EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,$?, dated July 2'9, 1862.

sists in a peculiar construction and application.

of the friction-plunger carrier with respect to the fuse-plug, or combining with the plug a device which, on impact of the head of the said carrier or outer end of such device against an object, at which the fuse-plug, while connected to a shell, may be discharged, the said carrier or device shall be caused to rupture or break the fuse-plug in such manner as to allow the flame of the burning end of the fuse to obtain access to the powder-charge of the shell in order to explode it.

In the drawing, A is the fuse-plug, c011- structed in the usual manner, with a tapering socket, a, for reception of atubular time-fuse. This socket leads out of the lower part of the cylindrical chamber of the case and forms an annular shoulder, c c c, which is at the bottom of the chamber. A cylindrical tube or plungercarrier, B, is screwed into the chamber of the plug A, as shown at t 'i, the threads of the screw being much smaller in number and size than those of the screw it on the outside of the plug A, and by which such plug is screwed to a shell. Furthermore, not only does the lower end of the carrier B rest on or close to the shoulder 6, but the carrier is extended by a cylindrical neck, Z, somewhat beyond the top of the fuseplug. The carrier is provided with a head, 921, through which are two or any other suitable number of flameducts, (Z (Z. It is intended that a bifurcated tongue or fric tion-discharger, E, should project downward from the head m, or a recess, h, made therein and enter the cap D of a cylindrical bell or hollow plunger, 0. Friction priming or powder or composition which will ignite by friction is to be placed in the cap D and around the prongs of the discharger or tongue E, after which a small charge of gunpowder may be placed in the chamber 9, and the flange or v to its bursting-charge.

annular lip f, below the cap D, may be plugged or be upset, or so bent inward as to close or confine the mass in the said chamber. If we suppose the fuse-plug,after having been thus prepared and provided with a time-fuse, to be fixed in a shell, the inertia of the plunger 0 and the velocity of impulse of the shell at the commencement of. the flight of the latter from a piece of ordnance will cause the friction fork or discharger ID to be drawn smartly through the cap I), in which case it will cause the friction'priniing that may be in the cap to be inflamed. The result will be that the charge of the chamber 9 will be exploded, and will burst open the bottom of the chamber, and will fire the top of the time-fuse, which may be resting in the socket a. In case the fuse should burn longer than may be desirable to effect the explosion of the burstingcharge of the shell at the period of impact of the shell against an object at which it may have been directed, the momentum of the projectile at the period of the impact will cause the fuse-plu g to break its screw-connection with, and be driven forward on the carrier B, which, entering farther into the fuse-plug, will so cut into it at the shoulder c, and produce or aid in producing a separation or breakage of it thereabout as will permit the fire of the fuse to enter the powder-chamber of the shell and gain access The part B, under the momentum of the shell, is thus caused to act as a chisel to cut into the fuseplug A and break off or aid in detaching the lower from the upper half of it, or so separating them as to enable the fire of the firing-fuse, when contained in the lower half, to gain access to the burstingcharge of the shell.

I claim In combination with the fuse-plug A, a de vice which shall enter the same, and soextcnd beyond or out of its mouth that on impact against an object during flight of a shell'in which the plug may be such device may be driven into the plug and caused to so cut or break it as to enable the flame proceeding from the upper or burning end of the fuse to enter the chargechamber of the shell, as specified.

B. F. STURTEVANT.

Witnesses R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr. 

